Spring Fever Is Sizzling

Has the early beautiful weather put you in the mood for planting? Our back yard is, like much of Payson:

trees, gravel and rock, with a few planters providing bright spots for colorful relief. Last fall, after discarding the frost-bitten annuals, in a melancholy moment, I told myself that come spring, I was not going to fill the planters again. Well, here it is, almost spring, and guess what? I have been browsing through the garden departments of our local stores and the temptation is too great. I can’t wait to get planting – impatiens, petunias, marigolds, snap dragons, salvia and of course, my favorite, geraniums. When I was a child, growing up in the wilds of Northern Wisconsin during the Great Depression, times were hard and money was tight, with little left over for “frills”. Somehow, my mother always managed to scrape up enough each spring to buy a few geranium plants for our kitchen window box. That box brightened our summers when there was not much else to smile about. Is it any wonder I have fond memories of geraniums?

With the average time of the last spring freeze here in Payson ranging through April, depending on elevation, I will try to hold off for a few weeks. We still may get that late spring snowstorm!

Payson Senior Center and Thrift Store

Gentle yoga and basic yoga are offered March 20, 25, 27 and April 1 at the Senior Center, 514 W. Main St. The classes begin with gentle yoga at 9:15 a.m. and basic yoga at 10:30 a.m. There is no charge for the classes, but a Senior Center membership ($15 per year) is suggested. For more information, call (928) 474-4876.

The Alzheimer’s Support Group meets at 1:30 Wednesday, March 19 at the Senior Center. The meeting is open to those who are caregivers or family members of Alzheimer’s patients.

Spring officially begins Thursday, March 20. Time to get your spring and summer wardrobe out, or perhaps to refresh it with some of the bargains at the Senior Thrift Store, 512 W. Main St.

Get your Bingo fix from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 20 and 27 at the Center. It is only $1 to play.

The Old Time Music Makers will meet at 9 a.m., Monday, March 31, in the Center Dining Room, to play their instruments and entertain listeners. The public is welcome to attend.

Former music teacher Larry Brasen will delight fans of music from the 40s, 50s and later years, at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 1 at the Center, also open to the public.

Other

Did you know that Jeopardy, the favorite television show of many of us seniors, myself included, is 50 years old this month? I’m not big on TV in general, and especially game shows, but don’t call me between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. weeknights. I’m too busy trying to figure out who was the Civil War general sideburns were named for, to answer the telephone.

My sincere compliments and thank you to multi-talented D. J. Craig, fellow Roundup columnist and photographer, for the stunning pictures he has taken of the eagles (and other birds) of Green Valley Park and his articles about them.